HAR. (_aside, to his son_). What? CLE. (_to_ MARIANNE). A strange question indeed! He is making me signs that I am to force you to accept it. MAR. I would not.... CLE. (_to_ MARIANNE). I beg of you.... He would not take it back. HAR. (_aside_). I am bursting with rage! MAR. It would be ... CLE. (_still hindering_ MARIANNE _from returning it_). No; I tell you, you will offend him. MAR. Pray ... CLE. By no means. HAR. (_aside_). Plague take ... CLE. He is perfectly shocked at your refusal. HAR. (_aside, to his son_). Ah! traitor! CLE. (_to_ MARIANNE). You see he is in despair. HAR. (_aside, to his son, threatening him_). You villain! CLE. Really, father, it is not my fault. I do all I can to persuade her to accept it; but she is obstinate. HAR. (_in a rage, aside to his son_). Rascal! CLE. You are the cause, Madam, of my father scolding me. HAR. (_aside, with the same looks_). Scoundrel! CLE. (_to_ MARIANNE). You will make him ill; for goodness' sake, hesitate no longer. FRO. (_to_ MARIANNE). Why so much ceremony? Keep the ring, since the gentleman wishes you to. MAR. (_to_ HARPAGON). I will keep it now, Sir, in order not to make you angry, and I shall take another opportunity of returning it to you. SCENE XIII.--HARPAGON, MARIANNE, ÉLISE, VALÈRE, FROSINE, BRINDAVOINE. BRIND. Sir, there is a gentleman here who wants to speak to you. HAR. Tell him that I am engaged, and that I cannot see him to-day. BRIND. He says he has some money for you. HAR. (_to_ MARIANNE). Pray, excuse me; I will come back directly. SCENE XIV.--HARPAGON, MARIANNE, ÉLISE, CLÉANTE, FROSINE, LA MERLUCHE. LA MER. (_comes in running, and throws_ HARPAGON _down_). Sir.... HAR. Oh! he has killed me. CLE. What's the matter, father? Have you hurt yourself? HAR. The wretch must have been bribed by some of my debtors to break my neck. VAL. (_to_ HARPAGON). There is nothing serious. LA MER. (_to_ HARPAGON). I beg your pardon, Sir; I thought I had better run fast to tell you.... HAR. What? LA MER. That your two horses have lost their shoes. HAR. Take them quickly to the smith. CLE. In the meantime, father, I will do the honours of the house for you, and take this lady into the garden, where lunch will be brought. SCENE XV.--HARPAGON, VALÈRE. HAR. Valère, look after all this; and take care, I beseech you, to save as much of it as you can, so that we may send it back to the tradesman again. VAL. I will. HAR. (_alone_). Miscreant! do you mean to ruin me? ACT IV. SCENE I.--CLÉANTE, MARIANNE, ÉLISE, FROSINE. CLE. Let us come in here; we shall be much better. There is no one about us that we need be afraid of, and we can speak openly. ELI. Yes, Madam, my brother has told me of the love he has for you. I know what sorrow and anxiety such trials as these may cause, and I assure you that I have the greatest sympathy for you.